Switch



w. A. HEINRICH swl'rcn Filed J ly 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Get. 30, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

VJALTER A. IIEIKRICI-I, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO \V. N. MATTHERVS CORPORATION, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOUBL SWITCH.

Application filed July 27, 1925- Serial No. 46,238.

This invention relates to electrical distribution apparatus and particularly to fuse switches and their containing boxes such as are used in high potential transmission lines. The general type of switch box involved is shown in pri r Patents, No. 1,288,951 and No. 1,398,835, issued to Claude L. Matthews and myself, December 2d, 1918, and Novem ber 29, 1921, respectively.

The general type of fuss switch involved is shown in prior Patent No. 1,51st,210,-issued to myself November 4:, 192 1.

Among the several objects of my present invention may be noted the provision of an improved combination of parts whereby wire connections to a fuse switch may be made at relatively inaccessible points such as on poles and the like without intricate operations of linemen, the provision of a simplified device of the type described which will. give positive flow of current underadverse conditions of installation and handling, and one which can withstand long and hard abuse. Other objects will appear in part and will in part be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, which are exoniipliilied in the description hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possibleembodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken from front to rear of the fuse box, showing certain parts in elevation, and in dotted lines alternate positions of certain parts;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 bi; Fig. 1, a lid being shown open, a clip block in disconnected position, and a fuse block removed;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the clip block in connected position;

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the fuse block or cartridge;

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.;

Fi 6 is a vertical section of a clip insulator taken on theline 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a clip and its insulator;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational detail of a hinge;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the hinge of Fig. 8; and, i

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the switch box as a whole.

. Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, there is illustrated at numeral 1 the back of the switch box. Sides 8 are made fast to the back 1. The upper edges of the sides slope rearwardly and a rearwardly sloping waterproof cover 5, preferably fibre, is screwed to the top edges of the backand sides. The cove 5 overhangs the box at all points to form eaves. A partially open bottom portion 7 is formed in the box.

On the sides 3 beneath the eaves of the cover 5 are screwed forwardly extending purchase pieces 9 (Fig. 9). These extend forwardly past and flush with front door 11. The door 11 has screwed to its edges vertical purchase pieces 13, crimped at 15 to aec0mmodate the passage of said pieces 9 (Fig. 8). The pairs of pieces 9 and 13 intersect one another in side elevation and at the point of intersection are provided with holes drilled in line. A set of drive screws 17 are horizontally passed through the pairs of holes and into the door 11 whereby the door 11 is ruggodly and economically hinged to the said box at .the top front edge thereof. The im proved purchase on the box of the hinges,

formed as described, is evident.

The door 11 swings forwardly on the hinge pieces and at its lower end is provided with an inwardly extending portion 7 a of said bottom 7 (see Fig. 10). The portions 7 and 7 of the bottom cooperate when the door 11 is closed to close the lower end of the box except at the open slot 19. This slot 19 per- .mits the lower open end 21 of a fuse block or cartridge 23 to protrude from the box for purposes to be described. The slot is cut partially in the piece 7 and partially in the piece 7.

A clip 25 serves to hold the door 11 normally closed. It comprises a Ushaped piece of spring metal 16 screwed to the door and having sideward legs 18. The legs 18 are provided with holes 20 which yieldingly engage the heads of screws 22 placed in the sides 3 of the box.

To hold the door in open position while the fuse carrying member 23 isbeing removed Flt provided with slots 41 for the loose passa e or replaced or other operations performed, there is provided a spring detent member 27, one end of which is pivotally connected to a suitable bracket 29 on the door 11 (Fig. 1). This detent member 27 is provided with a slot 31 through which passes a pin or stud the same being seated in one end of the side wall 3. The inner end of this detent is rebent to form a spring finger 35, the end of which bears against the inner face of said detent 27, and thus when the door is swung into open position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the head of the stud 38 will ride into position beneath the spring finger as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and thus the door will be yieldingly restrained in open position.

The box as a whole is held in position by brackets 37 fastened to the back 1.

Vithin the box are provided several novel features for making quick connections to a eli p block and fuse block or cartridge.

On the back 1, within the box is provided an adjustable clip block 39. This block is therethrough of bolts l-l. The bolts pass through holes in the back 1 of the box and are provided on the outside with washers and nuts. The heads of the bolts 4L3 are larger than the slots 41. and hence by tightening the nuts may be caused to clamp the clip block against the back 1. of the box. Likewise loosening of the nut will permit. the clip block 39 to be adjusted vertically.

The clip block 39 comprises the relatively thin bar into which said slots 41 are cut. It arries at each end a clip insulator 45. The insulators 45 are hollow and are adapted to receive centrally thereof plastic insulating material such as shown at 47 for purposes of molding the insulator-s to said block 39 Fig. 6). Integrally iormed buttons 49 on both ends of the block serve to grip the insulators to the block wheiirthe plastic iuolding material dries.

At the upper end of the insulators are molded clip assemblies 51.

The clip assemblies 51 each comprise a grooved nut 63 which prevents withdrawal or twisting of the assembly from the insulator after it has once been molded therein. Riveted to said nut 63 by means of a rivet 65 are clip pieces 67 and a wire terminal 69. The process of riveting makes an absolutely positive electrical connection between the terminal 69 and clips 67, not attainable by a mere bolting together of theseparts.

The terminal 69 comprises a flat plate 71 which receives the rivet 65 and lays between the legs of the clips 67. (last with the plate 71 are two branching terminal wire connectors 73, located angularly with regard to the vertical center line of the box. The connectors 73 are adapted to receive wire ends therein and are provided with the usual setscrews for holding the wires. Between the inner open ends of the hollow connectors 73 are cast two solder troughs 7:5 separated from one another by a wall '77. The plate 71. the troughs 75, the dividing wall 77 are all integrally cast, preferably of brass or other non-corroding metal and with which a soldered joint may easily be made.

It will be noted that the nut clip 67, and the described terminal assembly are riveted together as a unit and it is this unit which is molded on the top of the insulator 4:5. The clip block 39 carries an insulator assembly such. as shown in Fig. (5 at each end thereof. It is evident that the clip block carrying the insulator assembly which includes the clips (37 may be moved vertically into any ot various positions. The purpose of this is as follows lVhen leading wires into the switch box it is necessary to provide ample insulaticm therefor. Hence the sides 3 of the box are drilled in a slanting fashion as shown in l igs. 2 and 3 at the numeral These holes 79 are adapted to receive cylindrical insulators 81 From the inside oil? the box. The insulators 81 are provided with shoulders 83 which prevent their sliding out of the box and they are pointed downwardly to prevent moisture "from entering the box.

The parts oi this device are so arranged that when the clip block 89 is in its lowermost position as illustrated in Fig. 2, the insulator and clip assemblieslo do not interfere withthe entering of the insulator tubes 81 into their respective holes 79. (See dotted lines, Fig. 2.) However after the insulator tubes 81 have been entered into their respective holes 79 the clip block and all that it 'arries may be slid upwardly to the position shown in F 3, whereupon the wire terminal pieces 73 are aligned with the centers of the bores oi the insulators 81. The dotted and hill lines oi? the insulators shown in Fig. 2 illustrates the manner in which they are applied to the box. A't'tcr positioning the clip block, as described. the nuts oi? bolts 4L3 may be tightened to hold said block in its proper position.

Atter alignment between. terminals '73 and insulators 81 is attained as shown in Fig. 3 wires may be pushed through the insulators 81 directly into the wire terminals 73 and the ends put into troughs 75 without bending or crimping the wire. Solder may then be applied to the wire and into one of the troughs 75 thereby making an excellent electrical connection.

It will be noted in Figs. 2 and 3 that only two insulator tubes 81 are being used, one on each side of the box. This presupposes that the box as a whole is to be put into an electrical line, one side of which enters one. side of the box and the other side ot' which leaves the opposite side of the box. The provision of four holes 7 9 as illustrated, and the provision of tour wire terminals 73 makes the device perfectly universal and of either the right or left hand type. The pair of holes shown out of use in Figs. 2 and may have the insulators 81 applied thereto if so desired. whereby the relative positions of the wire leads are changed. As shown in the drawings, the pair of holes 79, not in use are rovered by weatherprooting plates 78. So far it is evident that the clips of the clip block form the line terminals within the box. It now remains to describe the fuse connector for these terminals.

Figs. 1 and 6 show that the insulators to have their outer surfaces corrugated. Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown clamped to the lower 'nsulator block to a downwardly extending hinge 83. One of the said corru gations prevents movement of the clamp along the insulator. The hinge has hingedly formed therewith an arm 85 which is adapted to swing from a horizontal to a vertical position. The arm 85 is provided with a slot 87 (Figs. 2 and 3). The slot 87 is adapted to removably receive the lower end 21 of the fuse carrying member 23 (Fig. 1). Hence the fuse carrying member 23 may be swung from a vertical to a horizontal position with the arm 85 when said arm swings from its horizontal to its vertical position respectively.

Referring now to Fig. l, the fuse carrying member 23 will be described. It con'iprises two, preferably fibre, insulating tubes held together by a lower band 91, and a central band and metallic terminal piece 93. At the upper end of the longer of the two tubes 8%) is provided another metallic terminal piece 95. The terminal pieces 93 and 95 are adapted to receive in electrical connection therewith a fuse wire 97. A detail showing the means for making the connection shown in F... The ends of the wire are clamped to the sides of the terminal pieces 93 and 953 by means of set screws 99. Hence it is obvious that the fuse wire may be removed from the tubes merely by loosening the set screws 99 and ithdrawing it from the open lower ends of the tubes. The fuse carrying block is applied to the aforesaid terminal clips 67 of the fuse blocks by placing its lower end 21 in the slot 87 of the arm 85: Then by swinging the fuse carrying member 23 with the arm 85 vertically, the terminal pieces 93 and 95 of the member 23 are thrown into contact with the clips 67 and hence electrical connection is made between the respective pairs of clips on the insulators a5 at the two ends of the clip block 39. These clips are the line terminals, as described, and are now connected by means of the fuse wire 97.

The complete operation of the box is as follows:

Near the line to which a. fuseis to be applied is hung the box. The lineman loosens the nuts on the bolts 43 thereby permitting the clip block 39 to drop into a lowermost position. The door is opened and it is now possible to apply a pair of insulating tubes 81 to the holes leading out of the box. These tubes are applied from the inside as described.

Next the clip block 39 is raised into its Fig. position, whereupon the nuts on bolts 4-8 are tightened thereby clamping the clip block assembly in place.

The line wires 85 are then pas ed through the ii'isulators 81, from the outside, into the wire terminals 78 and selderet in the troughs 75. The screws in the terminals are tightened to take external strains from the soldered connections. It should be noted that only two insulators 81 and four terminal screws are supplied with a box. It is therefore either ofthe left handor right hand type depending upon how said screws and insulators are applied. However it is to be observed that four lead wires, four insulators 81 and eight screws to fasten four lead wires may be employed if an operator sees fit to lead two wires to each set of clips. Furthermore two wires may be led into one side of the box only, if desired.

Next a fuse block or 156 carrying member or cartridge 23 is fitted with a fuse wire 97. The member 23 has its lower end 21 inserted into the slot 87. The block 23 is then in its dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. After this the block 23 is rotated up with the arm 85 and the terminal pieces 93 and 95 of the fuse engage the of spring clips (57 thereby closing the circuit through the fusewire 97. T he clips 67 are coniiposed of copper or other conducting material.

In order to make the device safe for operation by a lineman, a bridge portion 101 is cast with the upper terminal piece {)5 which may be engaged by a hook of an insulated tool carried by said lineman, whereby he is not required to apply his bare hands to the fuse carrying member 23, either for eng gement or disengagement thereof. When a fuse wire 97 burns the violent accompanying expansion of heated gases, pro jects all inflammable and other undesirable material from the tubes 89 to the outside of the box. The lower tube ends extend from the box when the clip block 39 is in its uppermost position.

After inserting the fuse bloclr 23, as described, the door 11- is closed and the device is iii-operation. It is entirely weatherproof, compact but rugged in construction and free from dange to an operator. Its action is electrically positive because of the improved means for riveting the line terminals 7 3 and the terminal clips 67 together. i From the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are attained and other advantageous results achieved.

As many modlfications of the embodiments Hill above illustrated migl'it be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the pres ent invention; it is intended that the above description and accompanying drawings and claims shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A safety switch comprising a box, movable and relatively spaced line terminals therein, insulating members passing through the box and adapted to be applied from within the box, said relatively spaced terminals being adj ustably movable without affecting said spacing to permit application of said insulating men'ibers.

2. A safety switch comprising a box, slidably movable spaced line terminals therein, insulators adapted. to be positioned in the walls of said box when the terminals are in one position, said terminals aligning with the posi tioned insulators in another position, wl'iereby unbent wires may pass through the insulators to the terminals, said terminals comprising cylindrical portions and set screws therefor tor the passage and clamping of wire therethrough and solder troughs adjacent the said cylindrical portions for soldering the said wires.

3. A universal safety switch comprising a box having a pair of holes in each side of said box oppositely spaced, a pair of insulators adapted to be passed one each through one of set of oppositely spaced holes, integral pairs of movable spaced line terminals within the box adapted to be moved to permit application of said insulators and adapted to be moved to prevent removal of said insulators and to align with said insulators whereby unbent wires may be passed through said insulators to said terminals, said terminals each comprisin g two clan'iping portions adapted to cooperate with a wire. coming in either hole of a pair of said holes and a solder trough formed with each of said portions for soldering the wire.

i. A switch comprising a box, a movable clip block within the box carrying line terminals, insulators adapted to be positioned through the side walls of said box when said block is in one position, said block aligning its line tern'linals with said positioned insulators in another position thereof, a hinge on the clip block, adapted to ren'iovably carry a fuse block which engages said line terminals when swung on the hinge, the line terminals comprising aligning connectors for wires passing through said insulators, integrally formed troughs for soldering said wires, and clips riveted to said troughs and connectors for receiving the engaging portions of said fuse block.

5. A universal safety switch comprising a box having a pair of holes in each side of ,id be); oppositely spaced, a pair of insulators adapted to be passed one iach through one of a of oppositely spaced holes, integral pairs of inoveable spaced line terminals within the box adapted to be moved to permit application of said insulators and adapted to be moved to prevent removal of said insulators and to align with said insulators whereby unbent wires may be passed through. said insulators to said terminals, said terminals each comprising two clamping port-ions adapted to cooperate with a wire coming in either hole of a pair of said holes and cover pieces for such of said holes as are not occupied by insulators.

6. A safety switch comprising a box, movable and relatively spaced line terminals therein, insulating members passing through the box and adapted to be applied from within the box, said relatively spaced terminals being adjustably movable without affecting said spacing to permit application of said insulating members, a hinged fuse block 1 lapted to engage said terminals, and adapted to move therewith, said box having an opening therein adapted to permit said fuse block to protrude therefrom and be movable therein.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this ilth day of July, 1925.

l VALTER A. HEINRICH. 

